5 6 JUNE | JULY 2016 CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVES HELP PASSENGERS TIER 4 LOCOMOTIVES ROLL BUS PLAZA TO CLOSE JULY 11 - OCTOBER 2016 irst time travelers at Los Angeles Union Station can often feel Ivan: “I like helping our passengers and working as a team with other CERs. INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIAL 91/PERRIS VALLEY LINE EDITION INSIDE overwhelmed when they have to catch a train on time or connect to We all get along extremely well. We never know what to expect from one day or from a Metrolink train, Metro subway, rail, bus or an Amtrak train. to the next, but we are prepared because we completed an extensive training Keep an eye out in the coming months as the first of 40 new Metrolink Customer Engagement Representatives (CERs) are located program. We make public address announcements, emphasize rail safety and Tier 4 low-emission, energy-efficient locomotives rolls into at Union Station and other Metrolink stations to help passengers respond to emergency situations. I welcome helping others.” Southern California. The new locomotives will look noticeably make their connections, respond to customer inquiries and purchase different and will bear the logos of “Tier 4 Clean Power” and Ftickets. They coordinate with connecting transportation providers and serve as “PTC,” Positive Train Control (shown below). the primary point of contact for train riders. This will mark the beginning of a new era for Metrolink as CERs Brian Phillips, Ashley Rutherford and Lead CER Ivan Chavez (right) are older locomotives are switched out with this new locomotive three of Metrolink’s 14 CERs who work at different stations on varying shifts. technology. After arrival at Los Angeles Union Station, Metrolink Here are their comments: plans to run the first locomotive on a tour around Metrolink’s service area this summer (dates to be announced). Brian: “I love my job and dealing with people. There’s always someone in NEW TIER 4 LOCOMOTIVE BENEFITS: need of help or directions. Sometimes I am in the tunnel where the crowd is in a hurry. I direct people to where they need to go or work on the platform CLEAN: The cleanest diesel locomotives in the nation. if a train is late.” POWERFUL: Engines are more powerful due to greater Patsaouras Bus Plaza (located on the horsepower than previous locomotives. The locomotives will move east side of Union Station) will be closed Ashley: “I work primarily in the ticket office on the east end of Union Station. people with added reliability. for construction July 11 - October, 2016 Engaging with a variety of people makes it so enjoyable to work here. QUIET: Tier 4 locomotives are quieter than other locomotives. to undergo upgrades and repairs. During Sometimes I go out to other stations to help if there is some type of delay.” SAFE: Safety is the highest priority at Metrolink. The new Tier 4 the closure, all buses and shuttles that locomotives will be equipped with Positive Train Control and crash currently enter the plaza will be given a energy management. temporary pick-up and drop-off location. Private vehicles will not be allowed to enter NEW SCHEDULE BEGINS JUNE 6 the bus plaza area and will be redirected to CHANGES EXPECTED TO IMPROVE SERVICE the new East Passenger Pick-up/Drop-off AND REDUCE TRAIN CONGESTION METROLINK LOWERS FARES FOR SHORTER TRIPS Facility located by entering the under- UPDATE ground parking garage at Vignes Street n May, the Metrolink Board of Directors voted to decrease fares on shorter distance trips. The lower fares and Ramirez Street. The new Metrolink schedule will not change any of the times on will go into effect on July 1, marking the second time in 2016 fares for short-distance trips have been the San Bernardino Line, which had multiple changes in April. decreased on Metrolink trains. Monthly passholders could receive savings of up to $84 a month. By If you make a connection at this bus plaza, The remaining six Metrolink lines will receive small changes with lowering fares for short trips, the hope is to make it more appealing and competitive for our current and visit: metro.net/busplazaclosure or call 323. this new schedule, including: 91/Perris Valley Line, Antelope n Starting June 6, Rail2Rail passengers can use a mobile Inew passengers to choose Metrolink trains as their mode of transportation. The short-distance fares apply to GO.METRO (323.466.3876) to find your Valley Line, Inland Empire-Orange County Line, Orange County Monthly Pass to ride Amtrak trains. temporary stop. TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE all tickets except the Weekend Day Passes and special event passes. Line, Riverside Line and Ventura County Line. n Mobile tickets must be purchased and activated prior to boarding. Metrolink shares rail lines with several other rail agencies In January, Metrolink lowered fares by introducing a $3 “Station-to-Station” fare pilot program for a period of BEACHES, DESTINATIONS & n One-way, Round-trip and Weekend Day passes expire throughout Southern California. These schedule changes were six months for one-way and roundtrip passes. The pilot program, which ends on June 30, showed significant DEMOCRACY AT WORK at 3 a.m. following the day of purchase. There are no made in coordination with rail partners Amtrak, North County advanced ticket sales available at this time. interest from riders for short-distanced options. The $3 “Station-to-Station” fare pilot was only available for (San Diego) Transit District, Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. The most wide- REGISTER SPECIAL SUMMER EVENTS select tickets. The board’s May action makes reduced short-distance fares available for more ticket types, spread changes to Metrolink service will occur on routes that connect to the 351-mile Los n Currently, riders who transfer to Metro Rail or use the TO VOTE including short-distance monthly passholders. Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor, called the LOSSAN Corridor, which travels Corporate Quick Card should continue to use paper through a six-county coastal region in Southern California. tickets from Metrolink’s ticket vending machines until Register by October 24, 2016 to vote in CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT further app enhancements are completed. Please check the Metrolink website to find out if you can take advantage of the lower rates: WORD FROM THE CEO SUMMER DESTINATIONS TIER 4 LOCOMOTIVES ROLL IN the November 8 Election. SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS NEW JUNE 6 SCHEDULE INSIDE 2 BEACH TRAIN SAFETY TIPS 3 EXPO LINE TO SANTA MONICA 4 5 6 LOWER FARES FOR SHORT TRIPS To review all the June 6 schedule changes on Metrolink lines, visit: metrolinktrains.com/schedules metrolinktrains.com/app metrolinktrains.com/agency/proposed_fare_policy_change registertovote.ca.gov 91/PVL SAFETY AWARENESS METROLINK APP UPDATE BUS PLAZA TO CLOSE metrolinktrains.com 800-371-5465 (LINK) metrolinktrains.com 800-371-5465 (LINK) 2 3 JUNE | JULY 2016 4 91/PERRIS VALLEY LINE SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDED ON THE COVER ON THE COVER SAFETY AWARENESS WORD FROM THE CEO AROUND METROLINK’S NEW SUMMER DESTINATIONS SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS 91/PERRIS VALLEY LINE CHINATOWN SUMMER NIGHTS: OC FAIR: JULY 15 - AUGUST 14 SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY This June/July edition of Metrolink JUNE 18, JULY 16, AUGUST 20 “GET YOUR FAIR FACE ON!” SPEND A FULL DAY OF FUN AT THE OC FAIR WITH Matters includes a special edition about SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS, TRAINS, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES’ CHINATOWN TRANSFORMS INTO A SUMMER PARTY. ANIMALS OF ALL KINDS. the new 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PVL) On the third Thursday of summer Enjoy musical performances in the Pacific PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES that begins operating on 24 miles of rail months, Summer Nights presents Amphitheatre and The Hangar, events in on June 6. With the opening of the new ARTHUR T. LEAHY | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | METROLINK an exciting hot spot with gourmet the Action Sports Arena, beautiful exhibits, 91/PVL comes an emphasis on railroad food trucks, Chinese chef cook- delicious Fair treats and carnival rides. safety. Having passenger trains traveling ing demonstrations, large outdoor Metrolink riders can board the OC Fair very decision we make at Metrolink starts with safety, whether it be for our employees, passengers through that area is new for residents and video projections, Chinese Express Bus from the Anaheim Canyon, and the trains they ride in, for pedestrians outside our trains, or for vehicles that cross our tracks. For businesses, so rail safety precautions for cultural activities, booths by local Santa Ana, Irvine, or Anaheim – ARTIC E example, we were the first passenger rail service in the nation to install Positive Train Control (PTC). both children and adults are critical. organizations and museums, craft stations for a direct ride to the OC Fair. brews and dancing! Take the Antelope Valley or San Bernardino Line to Los Just show your Metrolink ticket to board the OC Fair Express Bus and you’ll As a safety precaution until our new locomotives arrive, we temporarily leased 40 BNSF locomotives to Extensive public outreach to communities EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHES Angeles Union Station, transfer to the Metro Gold Line towards Azusa Pacific receive a coupon good for a $3 OC Fair admission ticket. For more details: lead our trains. With this came louder horn-blowing. Some of these safety steps affected our scheduling along the Perris Valley Line to promote These beaches can be reached by Metrolink trains directly or with transfers to Metro rail. College/Citrus College and exit at the Chinatown Station. metrolinktrains.com/ocfair and on-time performance. We apologize for any inconvenience these measures may have caused anyone, rail safety was done in advance of trains n Purple Line. Exit at 7th Street Metro Station and transfer to Metro Expo Line metrolinktrains.com/summernights but please know that public safety is our ultimate goal.